For generations, Garba has been about devotion and celebration, with a focus on the music, Maa Durga, and the community. In recent years, the dance form has brought another layer with social media and trends. The question arises: Is Garba still a celebration, or has it become content? Amid people trying to enjoy a new culture and some making it an Instagram trend, is Garba losing its meaning?

What is the new Navratri ritual amid social media?

If you visit any Garba ground in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, or Delhi and you will see that people are trying to capture the perfect twirl or those poses you have seen on social media. The lehenga is chosen not just for comfort but for how it will flare on camera in slow motion.
The Garba reels have become a trend of their own, where creators go from casual wear to full chaniya choli in a spin. The joy is still there, but the documentation of joy has become almost as important as the joy itself.

Have reels made the Garba culture good or worse?

The good thing is reels have made Garba global, as a person sitting on the other side of the world can learn Garba steps from a 30-second video. Small designers from Gujarat get orders because their chaniya choli went viral. Garba choreography, which was once limited to your local group, is now being taught, preserved, and celebrated online.
It has also empowered women creators. Many are turning their love for Garba into a career as dance creators and Navratri stylists.
On the flip side, the devotion has become an aesthetic. From offering your dance to the Goddess to offering your dance to the algorithm, Garba has also become performative. Moreover, it is also difficult to find the authentic Garba experience in metro cities like Mumbai and Delhi. You go to the Garba ground to experience the joy of Navratri but instead hear Bollywood music and EDM.
The traditional, slightly messy, sweaty and authentic joy of Garba is being replaced by curated, synchronised and influencer-led performances.

Can we find a middle ground?

The truth is, reels are not going anywhere, and they should not have to. The question is not to ban phones but to be more mindful. If you are going for Garba this year, dance one whole round just for yourself, without recording.
Garba survived centuries before social media, and it will survive this too. Social media has not ruined Garba; it has just reframed it. It has turned a community ritual into both a celebration and a spectacle. How we balance the two will decide what Garba looks like for the next generation.
(Image Credits: Pinterest)
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